Doom Town was built on the grounds of the Nevada Testing Site. Two versions were constructed between 1952 and 1955 to examine how a typical American community would fare in the event of a nuclear attack.
Each Doom Town was complete with houses constructed from a variety of building materials, gas stations, commercial buildings, and utilities. Cars, trucks, and other vehicles were parked on Doom Town's streets.
The completely furnished houses were placed at various distances ranging from 3,500 feet to 7,500 feet from the location of the blast. Eight different underground shelters were constructed behind the various homes to determine which were most effective in protecting "residents" of the ill-fated town.
Doom Town's homes were occupied by representations of typical American families - fully dressed mannequins, each wearing clothing made of different materials. Other mannequins were placed outside at staggered distances from the blast site, to evaluate if and how they would survive a nuclear blast.
As expected, the structures nearest the nuclear blast - about six-tenths of a mile - were almost completely destroyed. Those located furthest away - about 1.5 miles - suffered significant damage but remained standing.
As for the "people," one newspaper reported that, "Dummies lay dead and dying in basements, living rooms, kitchen, bedrooms.... A mannequin tot... was blown out of bed and showered with needle-sharp glass fragments."
Doom Town demonstrated the deadly power of America's nuclear arsenal.
- As part of 1955's Operation Cue, Civil Defense workers carry mannequins into a home set for destruction at the Nevada Test Site.
Cold War Close-up:
Doom Town Mannequins
Nixon FoundationAt first glance, the mannequins replicate a typical living arrangement from the 1950s but their purpose was actually quite grim.These mannequins were set-up in Doom Town to be used in atomic tests as a way to understand radiation effects on people. Operation Doorstep and Operative Cue were atomic civil defense tests ordered by President Truman in the 1950s that used mannequins placed in homes and cars.
- Workers surround a building that had been destroyed by a nuclear blast during 1955's Operation Cue.
- Civil Defense workers carry a mannequin, damaged by a nuclear blast as part of Operation Cue, to a nearby transportation truck.
- Slow motion photography captured the destruction of a brick house during 1955's Operation Cue.
Doom Towns were built on the grounds of the Nevada Testing Site to examine how a typical American community would fare in the event of a nuclear attack.